“It’s very easy to slump and feel miserable and worried and frightened by all of this.
But I think about the women in our film and how extraordinarily resilient and brave they are.
If they can do it, we should be able to do it.”
Credit: Aimee Spinks
How aware were you of their story going in?
Had you watched the real choir at all when it was happening?
KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS:No, I didn’t.
Because I was living in France when that happened.
And I said, “What choir?”
They said, “Where have you been?”
Not so much once we were going.
What does it feel like?
[Both men died in flying accidents.]
Did that shape your approach to the role at all, or help inform what Kate is going through?
It was more a flavor of life on a military base.
When we got to the place where we’re shooting up in Yorkshire, it was very weird.
It was like a time warp for me.
None of these places have changed in the past 40 years; they’re still exactly the same.
It was a very interesting experience to go into a place that seems so familiar.
And yet, of course, I hadn’t set foot inside a house like that since 1966.
Weve really never seen you sing to this degree before.
That’s probably a good thing.
What kind of prep work or training did it require?
I had to do a lot prep work.
I could understand a tune and I can vaguely read music, but that is absolutely it.
I’d had to sing once or twice for plays.
But singing in a play wasn’t really such a big deal.
I was quite scared, and it didn’t really matter because everyone was in the same state.
At one point he had to stop us because he felt we were getting too good.
Theres a scene where Lisa tries to get Kate to do karaoke.
What would be your go-to karaoke song?
I’m exactly the same as Kate.
That’s where fiction and fact become one, because I would rather drink ink than do karaoke.
I can’t think of anything worse.
Also the tone of the piece, because there was something quite farcical about her.
Even though she doesn’t see how ridiculous she is.
I quite liked playing someone who just went a little bit too far.
That was that was quite fun.
She just doesn’t doesn’t get it until right at the end.
I did I enjoy being able to push it a bit, yeah.
This film predominantly stars and is about women, which frankly is pretty rare.
Did that make the set or the work feel substantially different in any way?
To tell you the truth, not particularly, because we were working so fast.
It was a tiny little film.
It’s one of these of magical things that come out of Britain from time to time.
Let’s get this done."
There is sort of an efficiency.
But it was incredibly difficult to keep 40 pretend choir members under control.
Was that really what it was like?
It was really amazing.
You’ve got this sort of water thundering down, and the smell in the tunnel was quite something.
So it was smelly, dark, freezing cold, and damp.
We spent the entire day in that place, and the acoustics were absolutely magical.
Everyone got sick afterwards, we were all coughing and sputtering.
Now all we can remember is how those wonderful voices came alive in that tunnel.
Kate has a bit of an addiction to a home shopping web link.
Have you ever bought anything off one of those sorts of things?
No, I never have.
I’ve never done that.
Although now I am doing a little bit of online shopping.
I’ve suddenly got an urge for a dress.
When am I going to wear it?
I do not know.
But anyway, we can dream.
Do you know if there are similar plans for your original song in this?
I think they are; there have been stirrings about that.
I will put it this way: I haven’t been invited to sing.
However, you know, I’m available.
A version of this story appears in the June issue ofEntertainment Weekly, whichyou can order now.
